The 4-Week Fitness Plan to Increase Strength: Day 7

Welcome to Day 7 of the four-week fitness plan to increase strength! Day 7 is the start of the third week of this fitness plan, so we’ll follow the same pattern as Day 1, which focuses on the lower body.

If you follow this entire fitness plan, in just four short weeks, you’ll be on your way to a stronger, fitter you. This strength and mobility program shows you where to begin as well as how to make progressions. Best of all: The workouts can be done from your living room. You need a few small pieces of equipment, but other than that, just keep bringing your commitment to taking your health and fitness habits to a new level.

Over the course of four weeks, this program will guide you through three workouts per week; at the end of the fourth week, you should be rewarded with impressive strength and mobility gains. No matter what “performance” means to you, moving better and with more strength is the bedrock of successful performance. Additionally, better movement supported by necessary strength helps to keep nagging or debilitating injuries at bay.

Day 7 focuses on the lower body, particularly the hips. On the days you don’t have a workout scheduled, you can always add a 15–30-minute walk, bike ride or run/walk once, twice or even three times a week. This is totally optional, of course.

Progressions will be made from one week to the next for each exercise, making the baseline exercise more challenging and/or adjusting the sets and reps. Workout duration in this program will typically be between 15–45 minutes, depending on the day, week and pace that is comfortable for you.

The plan progresses in volume of work and difficulty of exercise from week to week.

What You Will Need for the Entire Plan:

• 1 resistance band/tubing with handles and door anchor (resistance level based on what you can use with perfect form)
• 1 pair of workout sliders
• 1 mini band (resistance level based on what you can use with perfect form)
• 1 set of dumbbells,* likely between 15–40 pounds (weight based on what you can use with perfect form).

*It is possible to modify the small number of dumbbell exercises in this program if access to dumbbells isn’t realistic.

How to Follow

Each workout has four exercises and is organized in an “A” set and a “B” set. Begin with the “A” set and alternate between “A1” and “A2” for the designated sets and reps. Once the “A” set is completed, move to the “B” set and complete in the same fashion.

Day 7

Day 7 is lower-body day. This workout will target hip strength and mobility while involving the core. Strong and mobile hips are your ticket to better performance throughout your day and during physical activity. High-functioning hips also serve to fend off back pain and take pressure off your knees.

Dumbbell Band Bench Bridge

Side Plank Clamshell

Half-Kneeling Reach

Band Bridge to Hamstring Side Curl